NYT Crossword Down December 11, 2025: All 39 Vertical Answers & Strategic Tips
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 39 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: Xwordhint Crossword Answers October 04 | February 29 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | March 30 2023 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 11, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Thursday |
| Total Down Clues | 39 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Medium |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 39 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Alan of PBS's "Scientific American Frontiers" |
| 2 Down | 2. Wrapper at a Japanese restaurant |
| 3 Down | 3. Steps up to, as the line |
| 4 Down | 4. Right-leaning type |
| 5 Down | 5. Super-trendy |
| 6 Down | 6. Electrified Olympic weapon |
| 7 Down | 7. Collect, as rewards |
| 8 Down | 8. Huggers |
| 9 Down | 9. In the style of |
| 10 Down | 10. Something learned the hard way, often |
| 11 Down | 11. Organization promoting international goodwill |
| 12 Down | 12. Coin with 12 stars on it |
| 13 Down | 15. Acting collectively |
| 14 Down | 18. Un-solid-ify |
| 15 Down | 22. Be worthy of |
| 16 Down | 25. Sol's sister |
| 17 Down | 27. Toward the back of the boat |
| 18 Down | 28. Big wheels in the Vatican? |
| 19 Down | 29. Ray Charles's first #1 R&B single (1954) |
| 20 Down | 30. Hand sanitizer eliminates the need to do this |
| 21 Down | 31. Quit |
| 22 Down | 32. Art class staple |
| 23 Down | 33. Abrupt endings, of a sort |
| 24 Down | 34. 2022 book paying tribute to a 1960s rock legend |
| 25 Down | 38. Narrow openings |
| 26 Down | 39. Big Apple debut in 2010 |
| 27 Down | 42. This clue's number, for the youngest U.S. president |
| 28 Down | 44. "Lux-ur-ious!" |
| 29 Down | 46. Nick of "Cape Fear" |
| 30 Down | 47. Pan in the butt? |
| 31 Down | 50. Cybersecurity concern |
| 32 Down | 52. Electrical units |
| 33 Down | 53. Maze runners, sometimes |
| 34 Down | 54. Universal donor's type, informally |
| 35 Down | 56. Children's author Blyton |
| 36 Down | 57. Popular stick-figure webcomic |
| 37 Down | 58. Quizzes |
| 38 Down | 60. ___-cone |
| 39 Down | 62. New Zealand parrot whose name sounds like a Korean automaker |
Detailed Hints and Answers for All Down Clues
Need help? Here are comprehensive hints and answers for each Down clue. Also check these helpful guides:
- May 04 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- Sundays NYT Across Sep 14 Full
- Todays Across Crossword NYT October 09
- February 29 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Alan of PBS's "Scientific American Frontiers""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: A__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ALDA
2 Down: "2. Wrapper at a Japanese restaurant"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: N__I
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NORI
3 Down: "3. Steps up to, as the line"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: T__S
- Similar words: toe, toenail
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: one of the digits of the foot
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TOES
4 Down: "4. Right-leaning type"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: I_____S
- Similar words: italic, Italic language
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ITALICS
5 Down: "5. Super-trendy"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: blistering, live
- Opposite of: cold
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HOT
6 Down: "6. Electrified Olympic weapon"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: E__E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a fencing sword similar to a foil but with a heavier blade
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EPEE
7 Down: "7. Collect, as rewards"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: R__P
- Similar words: draw, harvest
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: gather
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
REAP
8 Down: "8. Huggers"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: A__S
- Similar words: sleeve, branch
- Opposite of: disarm
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: weapons considered collectively
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ARMS
9 Down: "9. In the style of"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ALA
10 Down: "10. Something learned the hard way, often"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: L________N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LIFELESSON
11 Down: "11. Organization promoting international goodwill"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: P________S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PEACECORPS
12 Down: "12. Coin with 12 stars on it"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: E__O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EURO
13 Down: "15. Acting collectively"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: A___E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASONE
14 Down: "18. Un-solid-ify"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: M__T
- Similar words: unfreeze, dissolve
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MELT
15 Down: "22. Be worthy of"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: M___T
- Similar words: deserve, deservingness
- Opposite of: demerit
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: any admirable quality or attribute
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MERIT
16 Down: "25. Sol's sister"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: L__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LUNA
17 Down: "27. Toward the back of the boat"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: abaft, astern
- Opposite of: fore
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: (nautical
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AFT
18 Down: "28. Big wheels in the Vatican?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: P________E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
POPEMOBILE
19 Down: "29. Ray Charles's first #1 R&B single (1954)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: I________N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IGOTAWOMAN
20 Down: "30. Hand sanitizer eliminates the need to do this"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: R___E
- Similar words: gargle, rinsing
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a liquid preparation used on wet hair to give it a tint
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RINSE
21 Down: "31. Quit"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: E___D
- Similar words: complete, all over
- Opposite of: begin
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: have an end
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ENDED
22 Down: "32. Art class staple"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: P___R
- Similar words: theme, wallpaper
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PAPER
23 Down: "33. Abrupt endings, of a sort"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: T__S
- Similar words: TKO
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TKOS
24 Down: "34. 2022 book paying tribute to a 1960s rock legend"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'J' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: J__I
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
JIMI
25 Down: "38. Narrow openings"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: S___S
- Similar words: slit, prick
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a long narrow opening
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SLITS
26 Down: "39. Big Apple debut in 2010"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: I__D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IPAD
27 Down: "42. This clue's number, for the youngest U.S. president"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
- Similar words: maturate, geezerhood
- Opposite of: rejuvenate
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: how long something has existed
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AGE
28 Down: "44. "Lux-ur-ious!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: O_____A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OOHLALA
29 Down: "46. Nick of "Cape Fear""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: N___E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NOLTE
30 Down: "47. Pan in the butt?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: G__T
- Similar words: caprine animal, butt
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GOAT
31 Down: "50. Cybersecurity concern"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'K'
- Word pattern: H__K
- Similar words: hack on, jade
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: one who works hard at boring tasks
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HACK
32 Down: "52. Electrical units"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: O__S
- Similar words: Georg Simon Ohm, Ohm
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OHMS
33 Down: "53. Maze runners, sometimes"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: M__E
- Similar words: black eye, mouse
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MICE
34 Down: "54. Universal donor's type, informally"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'G'
- Word pattern: O__G
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ONEG
35 Down: "56. Children's author Blyton"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: E__D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a town in north central Oklahoma
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ENID
36 Down: "57. Popular stick-figure webcomic"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'X' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: X__D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
XKCD
37 Down: "58. Quizzes"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: A__S
- Similar words: expect, require
- Opposite of: obviate
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: inquire about
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASKS
38 Down: "60. ___-cone"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'O'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 38
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SNO
39 Down: "62. New Zealand parrot whose name sounds like a Korean automaker"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'K' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: large brownish-green New Zealand parrot
- This is Down clue number 39
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
KEA
Expert Strategies for Solving Down Clues
Master the vertical clues with these professional tips:
Why Start with Down Clues?
- Down clues often reveal key letters for intersecting words
- Vertical patterns can unlock difficult sections
- Many prefixes and suffixes run vertically
- Down answers often help solve Across clues
Down Clue Patterns to Recognize
- Fill-in-the-blank clues: These are usually the easiest Down entries
- Prefixes and suffixes: Common word parts often run vertically
- Abbreviations: Look for clues with "Abbr." or shortened forms
- Plural indicators: Words ending in 'S' are common in Down
- Pop culture references: Names and titles often appear vertically
Time-Saving Down Techniques
| Technique | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Scan all Down first | Get a mental map of the vertical flow |
| Fill short Down words | 3-4 letter words are often prefixes or connectors |
| Use crossing letters | Across letters help confirm Down answers |
| Look for themes | Related Down answers often share a theme |
Frequently Asked Questions About Down Clues
What are Down clues in crossword puzzles?
Down clues are the vertical entries in a crossword puzzle that read from top to bottom. They're numbered and correspond to specific columns in the grid.
Should I solve Down or Across clues first?
Many solvers alternate between Down and Across clues to build momentum. Down clues can help unlock difficult sections by providing key intersecting letters. The best approach is to solve the clues you find easiest first, regardless of direction.
How many Down clues are in today's puzzle?
Today's NYT crossword has 39 Down clues.
Are Down clues easier than Across clues?
Neither direction is inherently easier. The difficulty depends on the specific clues and your knowledge. However, Down clues often contain helpful prefixes, suffixes, and word parts that can be easier to guess.
How do Down clues interact with Across clues?
Down and Across clues intersect at various points in the grid. Solving one can provide letters that help solve the other, making the puzzle easier as you progress.
